10-Year-Old Shot At Miami Rec Center
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami)-- The mother of a 10-year-old youngster who was shot while riding his bicycle says the scene was "chaos" and says other children "were running around screaming."
"It was chaos. It sounded like firecrackers," said Tiffany Fair, whose son Jamari Tillman was shot in the leg Wednesday night.
Fair told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "I was thinking about my kids. We ran out of the door, We were screaming. The only thing my son remembers is three men in black hoodies approached him and fired shots. He collapsed and fell on the ground by a garbage can. There was more screaming and the bullet lodged in his leg.
"He was crying and I was crying. It's just sad about these guns being used to shoot at other people and kids walking around and they shoot at the person they are looking for and what happens is an innocent bystander gets hurt.
"If anyone sees anything, call the police. Jamari Tillman is my 10 year-old child and there are people out there who know something. They shouldn't shoot someone who is the wrong person. There are gang members and all out there. My son was an innocent child."
CLICK HERE To Watch Peter D'Oench's Report
Fair said her son was in good condition at Holtz Children's Hospital.
"His teacher came by from Holmes elementary and brought cards," she said. "Jamari is ok and he loved to see his family."
The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Liberty Square recreation center at 1415 NW 63rd Street.
Jamari Tillman was riding a bike around the basketball courts behind the center when three people walked up and began shooting.
"I was in my apartment and I heard multiple gunshot wounds," said Tillman's neighbor Tyrone Brown.
Brown said, "When I looked over at the playground I saw a boy lying on his side. I feel disappointed with people getting shot."
"When you come into a playground and shoot little kids that is a problem, it's unfair to that family, to this neighborhood, that kids cannot play in the playground without getting shot," said community center employee Eric Thompson.
"We don't really know the age of the offenders, we just know there were three. The 10-year old, who we know was not the target, we don't know who the target was that was on the basketball court so we are interviewing everyone who was there," said police spokeswoman Freddie Burden.
Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho posted on Twitter, "Heartbreaking. On the eve of the last day of school, another shooting in Miami injures a 10-year old child at a community center. #Senseless."
A senseless act of violence that has many live in the area and work at the community center saying enough is enough.
"It's a shame. I pray for the family, I hope things get better in this neighborhood but it won't stop until we say enough is enough," said Thompson.
There are several surveillances cameras at the Liberty Square complex because of closed circuit TV system installed by Miami Police in a special program. Investigators have a lot of surveillance tape to look at and may release some of it.
Police do not have a motive or any suspects at this point.
Anyone with information should call Miami Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
